Shelving arrangement



March 19, 1963 w. M. SHOFFNER 3,081,718

SHELVING ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 3, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W/AA/i M S/MFFA FZ March 19, 1963 w. M. SHOFFNER SHELVING ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3, 1961 INVENTOR. I/V/(Z/E I S/VflFF/VEK March 19, 1963 w. M. SHOFFNER SHELVING ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 3, 1961 6 I m R fi 1 Z, w as. 6 6F. U 7 4 A S FOW March 19, 1963 w. M. SHOFFNER SHELVING ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 f z'z Filed Jan. 3, 1961 INVENTOR. Wfll/f M fflfiFF/KER BY 7% /M March 19, 1963 w. M. SHOFFNER SHELVING ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 3, 1961 UD-U HINDU INVENTOR. W/LL/E m .fi/orm ze BY 7- i flrfa/z/z n s United States Patent 3,981,718 SHEINING ARRA'iiGEMENT Willie M. Shoffner, Fogarty Manufacturing Co, 10% E. Monument Ave, Dayton, @hio Filed Jan. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 80,266 13 Claims. (Cl. leg-1%) This invention relates to shelving and is particularly concerned with a novel shelving structure characterized in being extremely easy to erect.

Shelving of the nature with which the present invention is concerned is widely used in retail outlets, such as grocery stores, and comprises, generally, a base, an upstanding back or center portion, and shelves extending laterally from one or both sides of the back or center portion.

Many shelving arrangements of this general nature are known and are satisfactory for the purpose of supporting articles of merchandise for display after the shelving has been erected. Known shelving arrangements, however, have the drawback that they are expensive to manufacture and dificult to erect, and are lacking in the desired rigidity.

With the foregoing in mind, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a greatly improved shelving structure which will eliminate the drawbacks referred to above that are present in shelving according to the prior art.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a shelving structure which can be manufactured and shipped in a knocked-down condition and which can be quickly and easily erected at a point of use without requiring any tools other than a hammer.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a shelving structure of the nature referred to which includes readily adjustable means for leveling the shelving structure after it has been erected.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a shelving structure which can readily be manufactured by availing of simple forming, bending and stamping equipment.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a shelving unit which is constructed of modules so that a variety of difierent arrangements can be made of the basic components without involving the fabrication of any more than a relatively few items.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a shelving unit which will be extremely light but which will be as strong or stronger than known shelving units of the same general size but which have much greater weight.

These and other objects will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View showing a shelving unit constructed according to my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View indicated by line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged plan sectional view indicated by the line fi-3 on FIGURE 1, showing the construction of a vertical side rail of the shelving structure;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an upper corner of the center or back member of the shelving unit drawn at greatly enlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view indicated by line 5-5 on FIGURE 1 through one of the shelves of the unit;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view indicated by line 6-6 on FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view indicated by line 7-7 on FIGURE 1 showing the construction at one corner of the base of the unit;

ice

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view indicated by line 8-8 on FIGURE 1 showing one side of the base of the unit in section;

FIGURE 9'is a sectional view indicated by line 9-9 on FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away showing the corner of the base portion of the shelving unit;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged sectional view indicated by line 11-11 on FIGURE 1 showing, in cross-section, the clamping arrangement by means of which the uprights of the center panel of the shelving unit and the base are locked together;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view indicated by line 12- 12 on FIGURE 11 showing the locking device;

FIGURE 13 is a-perspective view showing two of the vertrical components of the locking device;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view showing one of the shelves of the shelving unit and partly broken away to show details of construction;

FIGURE 15 is a sectional view indicated byline 15- 15 on FIGURE 1 showing a connector member that extends between the front and back skins of the vertical central panel of the shelving unit;

FIGURE 16 is a developed view showing one of the shelf sections as it appears when blanked out and before being bent into its final shape;

FIGURE 17, is a perspective view partly broken away showing the manner in which the shelving would be constructed for being placed against a wall, in which case the beforeqnentioned central panel becomes aback panel;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary perspective view showing how the height of the back or center panel could be increased by adding sections thereto.

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary view looking in from the-front of a modified shelving-arrangement according to the present invention;

FIGURE 20 is a vertical sectional view indicated by line 20-20 of FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 21 is an exploded perspective view looking in toward the. left side of FIGURE 19 as indicated, by the arrow 21 thereon;

FIGURE 22 is a vertical sectional view indicated by line 22-22 on FIGURE 19;

FIGURE 23 is a plan sectional view indicated byline 23-23 on FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 24 is an enlarged perspective view showing the construction of one of the base members; and

FIGURE 25 is a perspective view showing the manner in which a shelf support bracket could be formed, for the intermediate column of the FIGURE 19 arrangement.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the shelving unit, according to this invention, will be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 to comprise a base part 20, and upstanding therefrom in the center is a center or back portion 22. The upper surface of the base portion forms a lower shelving 24, and other shelving units, as at 2.6 and 28, are supported on the center or back portion 22:, and project, cantilever fashion, outwardly therefrom.

The base 2% comprises spaced end members 30, to which the end posts of the center or back portion 22 are con.- nected and across the front and back of the base are sheet metal members 32 interconnecting the ends of the end members Sit. The end members 30 in cross section appear as is illustrated in FIGURE 9, wherein it will be seen that the end members consist of the outer skins 34 and 36 and a central web 38. At their lower edges 34 and 36 are bent outwardly to form a foot portion 40 that will support the shelving unit. At their upper ends the skins 34- and 36 are formed inwardly toward each other and then upwardly as at 42 to define an edge that will receive and support the edge of the lowermost shelving 24. The center web 38 extends between the bottom and the top of the end member 30 and is fixed therein, as by welding, and there may be provided a reinforcing strip 44 along the top edge of web 38, if so desired.

As will be seen in FIGURE 10, the skins 34 and 36 have their end edges turned inwardly toward each other, as at 46 and 48, thereby defining a lip that can be engaged by a turned-back lip 56 on front panel 32.

Front panel 32 at its bottom edge is turned backwardly and upwardly as at 52 to form a stiif region along the bottom member 32 which will prevent bending thereof and which can also provide support for the shelving unit if necessary.

At this upper edge the member 32 is formed outwardly as at 54 and then downwardly as at an angle, at 56, and then is bent backwardly upon itself as at 58. The bent portions 56 and 58 define a slot that receives the outer edge 60 of the outermost shelf element 62, and also receives a tongue on an extruded aluminum strip 64, which has its outer face slotted at 66 for receiving paper strips on which printed matter pertaining to the goods on the shelf can be placed.

Both the member 32 in front of the base and the member 32 in back of the base, as it is viewed in FIGURE 1, are identical.

Turning now to the shelf 24, this shelf is composed of a plurality of shelf elements, in addition to the previously mentioned shelf element 62, and which additional shelf elements are all identical. Each shelf element has a flat center portion 68 with a dependent edge 70 at one side and with the other side edge being bent downwardly and then back upon itself as at 72 for receiving the dependent tongue or edge 70 of the next adjacent shelf element.

By making up the shelves of individual elements of the nature referred to the width of the shelf can be varied in predetermined units of, say, two (2) inches; while at the same time the resulting shelf is light but is extremely strong on account of the turned-down and interconnected edge portions.

By the described arrangement the usual expensive reinforcing provided underneath the shelves in shelving units of this type is eliminated, together with the expense of fabricating and applying the reinforcements.

The first mentioned shelf element 62 is the same size as the other shelf elements and accordingly can be blanked out with thesarne die but has its one edge portion bent downwardly at an angle, as described, instead of being bent down vertically.

As will be noted in FIGURE 8, the shelf element nearest the center or back portion 22 receives in its grooved edge the lower edge of a panel 74 that extends vertically on the adjacent face of the said center or back portion 22.

As will also be noted in FIGURE 9, the shelf elements have edge portions 76 that rest on the top edge of the end members 30 of the base, while the bent down edge portions of the shelf unit rests at '78 on the shoulder adjacent the top of the inner skin 36 of the end members. The shelving element and thus, the entire shelf, is not only firmly supported in this manner, but the upper edges of the end members are concealed. This makes for a neat appearing shelf and by making the shelf elements of stainless steel, it is possible to make the end members 30 of ordinary rolled steel and to conceal any unsightly raw edges thereof.

FIGURE 16 shows one of the shelf elements in developed form which is the manner in which it appears after it is blanked out and before the edge portions and 72 are f0IIl'ld,'3S previously described.

The lower shelf 24 is of somewhat different construction than the other shelves because the elements making up the lower shelf are firmly supported by the end members 30 and are also interlocked with the adjacent covering panel 74 of the center or back portion 22. This makes the lower shelf stable and strong and self-supporting, without any additional reinforcing or attaching means. The upper shelf, however, must be borne cantilever fashion, but the back or center portions 22 are constructed slightly differently.

Referring first to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the back or center portion 22 comprises posts 80 between which extend the aforementioned panel 74 on one side and a corresponding panel 82 on the other side. The marginal edges 75 of the panels 74 and 82 are bent inwardly into engagement with the post 80 and may be attached thereto by welding.

As to the post itself, each post comprises a pair of spaced hat-shaped sheet metal members 84 and disposed between the ends thereof are the outwardly opening channels 36. Cover sheets 88 are applied over the open sides of the hat-shaped members 84 and their edges are turned into the open sides of the channels 86. This makes for a relatively light, but extremely strong structure which can be welded together to form a permanent assembly if so desired. It will be understood, however, that the assembly would be strong and self-supporting even without any welding.

The channel members 36 are provided with a plurality of slots 9i) spaced along the webs thereof and it will be seen in FIGURE 5 these slots are availed of for supporting outwardly projecting arm members 92. The arm members 92 have at least one hook portion 94 at the top and then one or two studs or projections 96 therebelow, so that the arm members can easily be connected with the channel members or separated therefrom.

Each arm member has turned inwardly therefrom tabs 93 which are spaced apart about the same distance as the width of one of the shelving elements. This will be seen notonly in FIGURES 5 and 6, but also in FIGURE 14. These tabs are apertured at 9? and the apertures 99 in the tabs line up with apertures 164 provided in the edges of the shelving elements when the shelving elements are blanked out.

Reference to FIGURES 5, 6 and 14 will show that the aforementioned apertures are availed of for receiving a rod 102 which has a head 1% at the inside edge of the shelf, which head is engaged by panel 74 when the shelf is placed in position by connecting the supporting side arm F2 with the post 86. The rods prevent the shelf elements from becoming dislodged from the supporting arms.

It will be seen from FIGURE 14 that the projecting edge portions 76 of the shelving elements extend over the top edges of the supporting arms 92, thereby providing support for the shelving elements and enclosing the upper edge of the supporting arm.

The outside surfaces of the supporting arms are decoratively concealed by thin sheet metal arm cover elements 106 which are similar to the arm members 92 and which attach to the posts in the same manner, but which are wider than the said arm members, whereby they not only conceal the arm members but also form a safety edge at each end of the shelf. This safety edge will be seen at 1% in FIGURE 14.

The arm cover members have turned up tabs 11% that engage the bottom edges of the arm members 92, so that after the shelf assembly is put into position the cover members 1% will be locked in place.

The shelving elements making up the upper and center shelves in FIGURE 1 are all identical and are the same as the shelving elements making up the lower shelf 24 except that for the upper and center shelves, the elements are reversed, so that their dependent tongues are on the left side and the tongue-receiving grooves are on the right side. The last tongue-receiving groove at the outer edge of each shelf receives an extruded aluminum molding H2, which is substantially identical with the previously referred to molding or strip 66.

It is convenient to form the covering panels 74 and 32 of the center or back portion 22 in two parts, as will be seen in FIGURES 2 and 15. In these views it will -be observed that the lower portions of these panels have their top edges bent to form upwardly opening grooves 114 which receive the lowermost edges of the upper portions of panels '74 and 82.

The panels and the entire structure as well can be stiffened by providing between the panels an inverted U-shaped member 116 which has its legs extending into the grooves lid. Such a member is light but adds great strength to the structure and stiffens the panels 74 and 82.

At their upper edges, as will be seen in FIGURES Z and 4, the panel members 74 and $2 are formed with the upwardly opening tongues 118 which receive the dependent legs of a top cap member 1%, similar to member 116, but having end portions 122 that extend outwardly and cover the upper ends of the posts St) at the ends of the center or back portion 22.

An important connection to be made in constructing the shelving units is the connection between the end posts 80 and the base end members 30. The strength of this connection will determine the strength and rigidity and, therefore, the utility of the assembled shelving unit. This is accomplished as follows, each end member has an opening 12 itherein for receiving the lower end of the rertaining end post. Inside. the end member and spaced apart so as to receive the post tierebetween are the plates 126 which will form abutments for the side edges of the pertaining post. The center web 38 is also cut out for receiving the post, but, as will be noted in FTGURE 11, extends clear into the webs of the channels 85 of the 0st. p The connection of the post to the end member is then made by expanding the lower end of the post inside the end member. This makes for an extremely strong and rigid connection therebetween, which is much more satisfactory than a riveted or bolted connection.

The expanding of the lower end of the post is accomplished by a device illustrated in FIGURES l1, l2 and 13. This device comprises a first wedge plate 13% welded along the inside base of the web of one of the channels 86 and projecting toward the other channel and forming with the web of the other channel a space which converges upwardly.

A second wedge plate 132 is loosely disposed in the space between wedge plate 130 and the other channel member of the post. A U-shaped strap 134 is spot-welded to wedge plate 132 and this prevents the plate 132 from dropping out the bottom of the post, but does not prevent upward movement of the plate 132.

The bottom of the end member 34! is also provided with a small aperture 136 and through this aperture there is introduced a punch or pin and merely by striking the punch or pin with a hammer, after the post is seated in the end member, the wedge plates can be moved relative to each other, thus to expand the lower end of the post laterally into extremely tight supporting engagement with the pertaining end member 3t It will he understood that the forces that can be developed by the wedge plates Will be ample to cause considerable expanding of the post, if such expansion is nec essary to bring the post into supporting engagement with the end base members.

It will many times occur, of course, that the shelving unit will be placed on a surface that is not exactly level. To meet this situation I have provided leveling devices 1%, which will be seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 8, and.

each of which comprises a first plate 142 having its lower edge formed so as to fit about the bottom of an end base member 39 and on the inside of the base member having an inclined turned down lip portion 144. Disposed within the lip portion is the upper edge. of a tapered member 146 having a striking tab 148 turned outwardly therefrom. By disposing, say, four of the leveling devices about the base, it becomes a simple matter to level the assembled shelving up by lifting the lower shelf 24 and tapping the striking tabs 14% of the leveling devices until a level condition is obtained. The lower shelf 24 can then be replaced and the leveling device will be concealed.

from the foregoing it will be evident that the shelving unit as described can be completely assembled without the use of any tools other than a pin and a hammer. No threaded connections are necessary and accordingly no screw driver or wrench or nuts and bolts are required. This makes for very easy and rapid installation and a more permanent installation because there are no threaded connections to become loose. There are no screw threads that can become mutilated from careless assembling and all raw edges are concealed after the unit is completely assembled.

The shelving assembly described above is one in which shelves extend outwardly in both directions from the center portion 22. This portion, however, has been referred to as a center portion or a back portion and it becomes a back portion when the shelves of one side thereof are eliminated so that the shelving can be placed against a wall. For such a unit substantially the same elements are employed except that the base and members are constructed somewhat differently. This is illustrated in FIG- URE 17 wherein it will be seen that the outer skins 15d of the base end member are formed inwardly as at 152 to engage the back edge of the post 154 that is inserted in the base end member to be connected therewith. In all other respects the construction or" the entire shelving unit is the same as described above.

In certain instances it may be desired to extend the shelving unit upwardly. This can be accomplished by extending the posts upwardly, by putting corresponding post sections 16% thereon, which are provided with dowel elements 162 that slip down inside the hat-shaped member 164 forming a part of the post structure.

l have found that this makes a convenient and inexpen sive way of increasing the height of the shelving assem bly and at the same time all threaded belts or riveted connections are avoided, as was referred to above.

FlGURES 19 through 25 show a modification which differs from the previously described modification principally as to the construction of the base of the shelving unit. The upright columns and the panels interconnecting the upright columns and the shelf members and the supporting brackets therefor in the modification of FIG- URES 19 through 25 are substantially the same as in the previously described modification. The base members of this modification however, have been arranged so that they can be manufactured from flat interconnected pieces of metal thereby eliminating the box sections of the previous modifications.

This will become evident upon reference to the drawings wherein it will be seen that the side base members, indicated by the reference numerals 2% in FIGURE 19 and one of which is illustrated in perspective in FIG- URE 21, are composed of the plates 2G2, having their lower edges turned inwardly as at 264 to provide feet for the side base members. At the front of the shelving the plate 2% is cut oil at an angle of about 66, as at 206, and attached to the inside of the plate 2&2 at the front edge is an angle clip 2% having apertures 2t'l9 which is utilized for the purpose of supporting the kick plate or cover strip across the front of the shelving unit.

Gn the inside of the plate 2 32 there is attached a strip or bar Elli) set downwardly from the top of the plate about 2 inches and terminating adjacent the inclined outer edge of the plate in an upturned portion 212.

In the region of the center of the base member 2% strip or bar 213 is apertured as at 214 and this aperture is availed of for receiving the post 215. Post 216 is constructed in exactly the same manner as the previously described posts except that the spaced channel members 21: are slotted at 22% so as to fit over the: plate 262 of 'i' the base member 200. When the column is set in place tapered pins 222 are driven into apertures in the column and the plate which are in register and this will lock the two parts rigidly together.

As will be seen in FIGURE 20, the strips or bars 210 support the elements 224 making up the lower shelf while the front and back of the shelving unit is closed by a cover strip or kick plate 226 having tabs 228 that fit into the apertures 26% in the angle clip 208. This trim sheet or kick plate has its upper end formed backwardly as at 230 so as to fit over the upturned end part 212 to extend between the base members. This plate is as long as the shelving and is notched out where necessary to accommodate the base members.

The FIGURE 20 showing illustrates a shelving unit that extends both forwardly and backwardly from the center column but if the arrangement were a wall unit so that it had shelves extending outwardly from only one side it will be understood that the base member would project in only one direction from the center column and that the turned under flange 2% extending along at the bottom of the base member would be turned upwardly to extend along the back of the center column. The construction would otherwise be the same as is illustrated.

The shelving unit consists of the end base members and, where longer shelving is employed, one or more intermediate base members 234 which are constructed as is illustrated in FIGURE 24. In this figure it will be noted that intermediate base member 234 comprises a center plate 236 with a base strip or bar 238 attached thereto and extending along the bottom thereof and up the inclined front edge. Along the top of plate 2% is the top bar or strip 240 which terminates at the inclined end of the base plate in upturned end 24-2 portion corresponding to the upturned end portion 212 described in connection with bar or strip 219.

In the center of the base member 234-, or at the place where it is to receive the column, the bar or strip 2% is apertured as at 2 54 and this aperture is adapted for receiving the lower end of the center column 246 which has the webs of the side channels thereof slotted as was described in connection with column 216 so that the plate 236 is receivable in the slot. Tapered pins, which are indicated at 248 in FIGURES 22. and 2,3, serve to hold column 246 in assembled relation with the center base member.

The shelf members that are supported on the columns may be supported on the end columns 216 in the same manner as previously described but in connection with the center column 246 it is of advantage to employ a support arm as is illustrated at 250 in FIGURE 25 which is, in effect, a double arm having apertured tab element-s 252 turned out from both sides thereof. These apertured tab elements correspond to the tab elements previously described in connection with the first modification and serve to support the inner ends of the shelf elements that go to make up the shelf units of the assembly.

In any case the shelving unit can be quickly and inexpensively fabricated from relatively thin sheet metal, except for the rolled sections in the vertical posts, by the use of ordinary sheet metal forming equipment. The net result is reduced cost, and also weight is reduced, installation time is kept at a minimum, while maximum strength is obtained.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

In a shelving arrangement; spaced side base members having post receiving openings in the top, posts in said openings extending upwardly from the side base members having their lower ends in rigid engagement with the side base members, a front base member, said front 8. and side base members having adjacent end portions in interfitting engagement, each said post having apertures distributed therealong, a pair of support arms for attachment to the posts each having a hook engaging one aperture of the pertaining post and a spud portion engaging another of said apertures, a shelf member supported on said arms, said shelf member comprising a plurality of shelf elements in side by side relation, each element having a tongue dependent on one side and means dependent on the other side forming an upwardiy opening groove receiving the tongue of the adjacent element, said arms having tabs thereon beneath the ends of the shelf elements,

. and a rod extending through the tabs of each arm and the said tongues and dependent means of the shelf elements to interlock the shelf elements and arms to make up a unitary assembly.

2. In a shelving arrangement; spaced side base members having post receiving openings in the top, posts in said openings extending upwardly from the side base members having their lower ends in rigid engagement with the side base members, a front base member, said front and side base members having adjacent end portions in interfitting engagement, each said post having apertures distributed therealong, a pair of support arms for attachment to the posts each having a hook engaging one aperture of the pertaining post and a spud portion engaging another of said apertures, a shelf member supported on said arms, said shelf member comprising a plurality of shelf elements in side by side relation, each element having a tongue dependent on one side and means dependent on the other side forming an upwardly opening groove receiving the tongue of the adjacent element, said arms having tabs thereon beneath the ends of the shelf elements, and a rod extending through the tabs of each arm and the said tongues and dependent means of the shelf elements to interlock the shelf elements and arms to make up a unitary assembly, said tabs on each arm including at least two tabs engaging respectively opposite sides of spaced ones of said dependent means.

3. In a shelving arrangement; spaced side base members having post receiving openings in the top, posts in said openings extending upwardly from the side base members having their lower ends in rigid engagement with the side base members, a front base member, said front and side base members having adjacent end portions in interfitting engagement, each said post having apertures distributed therealong, a pair of support arms for attachment to the posts each having a hook engaging one aperture of the pertaining post and a spud portion engaging another of said apertures, a shelf member supported on said arms, said shelf member comprising a plurality of shelf elements in side by side relation, each element having a tongue dependent on one side and means dependent on the other side forming an upwardly opening groove receiving the tongue of the adjacent element, said arms having tabs thereon beneath the ends of the shelf elements, and a rod extending through the tabs of each arm and the said tongues and dependent means of the shelf elements to interlock the shelf elements and arm to make up a unitary assembly, said tabs on each arm including at least two tabs engaging respectively opposite sides of spaced ones of said dependent means, panel means extending between said posts at the rear of said shelf member, and heads on said rods at the rear of said shelf member that engage said panel means and lock the rods in assembled relation with the shelf assembly when it is mounted on said posts.

4. In a shelving arrangement; spaced side base members having post receiving openings in the top, posts in said openings extending upwardly from the side base members, the lower ends of said posts being in rigid engagement with the side base members, a front base member, said front and said base members having adjacent end portions in interfitting engagement, a pair of support arms detachably connected with said posts and extending outwardly therefrom, a shelf member resting on the base defined by said base members, a shelf member extending between and resting on said support arms, each said shelf member comprising a plurality of parallel shelf elements, each having a dependent tongue on one side and dependent means at the other side forming a groove receiving the tongue on the adjacent shelf element, tab means carried by said support arms extending under the shelf elements, rods extending through the tab means and the said tongues and dependent means of the shelf elements, a panel extending between said posts at the back edges of said shelf members, and the shelf member on the base having the dependent means on the said shelf elements disposed toward the rear, the dependent means of the rearmost shelf element of the shelf member on the base receiving the lower edge of said panel.

5. In a shelving arrangement; spaced side base members having post receiving openings in the top, posts in said openings extending upwardly from the side base members having their lower ends in rigid engagement with the side base members, a front base member, said front and side base members having adjacent end portions in interiitting engagement, apertures distributed along each post, a pair of support arms for attachment to the posts each having a hook engaging one aperture of the pertaining post and a spud portion engaging another of said apertures, a shelf member supported on said arms, said shelf member comprising a plurality of shelf ele ments in side by side relation, each element having a tongue dependent on one side and means dependent on the other side forming an upwardly opening groove re ceiving the tongue of the adjacent element, said arms having tabs thereon beneath the ends of the shelf elements, and a rod extending through the tabs of each arm and the said tongues and dependent means of the shelf elements to interlock the shelf elements and arms to make up a unitary assembly, each said shelf element having a lip projecting at each end beyond the said tongue and dependent means extending over the top edges of the said arms.

6. In a shelving arrangement; spaced side base members having post receiving openings in the top, posts in said openings extending upwardly from the side base members having their lower ends in rigid engagement with the side base members, a front base member, said front and side base members having adjacent end portions in interfitting engagement, apertures distributed along each post, a pair of support arms for attachment to the posts each having a hook engaging one aperture of the pertaining post and a spud portion engaging another of said apertures, a shelf member supported on said arms, said shelf member comprising a plurality of shelf elements in side by side relation, each element having a tongue dependent on one side and means dependent on the other side forming an upwardly opening groove receiving the tongue of the adjacent element, said arms having tabs thereon beneath the ends of the shelf elements, and a rod extending through the tabs of each arm and the said tongues and dependent means of the shelf elements to interlock the shelf elements and arms to make up a unitary assembly, each said shelf element having a lip projecting at each end beyond the said tongue and dependent means extending over the top edges of the said arms, there being arm-like cover members disposed against the outer surface of said arms and having hook means engaging the apertures in said posts, said arm-like cover members being wider than said arms thereby to conceal said arms and including tab portions engaging the bottom edges of said arms.

7. In a shelving arrangement; a support post comprising spaced channels opening away from each other, strips engaging the outer faces of the flanges of said channels and extending between said channels and formed inwardly into the space between the channels so .as to form shoulders engaging the webs of the channels, and other strips extending between the channels and having edge portions turned into the open sides of the channels.

8. A shelving arrangement; a base portion, spaced posts fitting into and rigid with and extending upwardly from said base portion, each said post comprising spaced channels opening away from each other, means extending between said channels holding the channels in fixed spaced relation, a pair of panel members on each side of the posts extending between and connected to the posts, each side marginal portion of said panels having a flat flange bent backwardly thereon and extending into the open sides of one of the channels of one of said posts, each lower one of said panels having an upwardly opening groove therein at the top and the upper one of said panels on the same side of the post having its lower edge resting in said groove, there being an inverted U- shaped member extending between said posts and between the panels and having dependent marginal edges extending into said grooves of the lower panels on the opposite sides of said posts thereby to interconnect and support the said panels.

9. In a shelving arrangement; a base portion, spaced posts extending into and rigid with and projecting upwardly from said base portion, said posts having channels extending longitudinally therethrough, and means for extending the height of said posts comprising post elements constructed in the same manner as said posts, key members closely fitting and fixed in the channels of said post element and projecting outwardly from the end of said post element fixed therein whereby to be receivable in the channels of the first mentioned posts at the upper ends of the posts whereby to support said post elements in alignment with the said posts.

10. In a shelving arrangement; a base comprising spaced side base members and front and back base members detachably interfitted with said side base members, posts extending into the side base members and rigid therewith and projecting vertically upwardly therefrom, each post having grooves formed along its front and back faces, panel members in front and back of said posts arranged one above the other and extending laterally between and connected to said posts, each panel member having its marginal edge portion bent back so as to eX- tend into the grooves of said posts, each said panel member having an upwardly opening groove formed along its top edge, each panel member above the lowermost one thereof having its lower edge received in the groove at the upper edge of the panel member therebeneath, and inverted U-shaped brace members extending laterally between the said posts and having dependent marginal edges received in the said grooves along the upper edges of said panels.

11. In a shelving arrangement; a base comprising spaced side base members and front and back base members detachably interfitted with said side base members, posts extending into the side base members and rigid therewith and projecting vertically upwardly therefrom, each post having grooves formed along its front and back faces, panel members in front and back of said posts arranged one above the other and extending laterally between and connected to said posts, each panel member having its marginal edge portion turning into the grooves of said posts, each said panel member having an upwardly opening groove formed along its top edge, each panel member above the lowermost one thereof having its lower edge received in the groove at the upper edge of the panel member therebeneath, and inverted U-shaped brace members extending laterally between the said posts and having their dependent marginal edges received in the said grooves along the upper edges of said panels, the said inverted U-shaped member at the top of said posts having means at the ends extending outwardly over and covering the upper ends of said posts.

12. In a shelving arrangement; a base comprising spaced side base members and front and back base members detachably interfitted with said side base members, posts extending into the side base members and rigid therewith and projecting vertically upwardly therefrom, each post having grooves formed along its front and back faces, panel members in front and back of said posts arranged one above the other and extending laterally between said posts, each panel member having its marginal edge portion turning into the grooves of said posts, each said panel member having an upwardly opening groove formed along its top edge, each panel member above the lowermost one thereof having its lower edge received in the groove at the upper edge of the panel member therebeneath, and inverted U-shaped brace members extending laterally between the said posts and having their dependent marginal edges received in the said grooves along the upper edges of said panels, a shelf member on the base portion on each of the front and back sides of said posts, each said shelf member having an upwardly opening groove at its rear edge and the lowermost of said panel members having their lower edges disposed in the said grooves of said shelf members.

13. A shelving arrangement; a base portion, spaced posts filling into and rigid with and extending upwardly from said base portion, each said post comprising spaced channels opening away from each other, means extending between said channels holding the channels in fixed spaced relation, 21 pair of panel members, one above the other, extending between and connected to the posts, each side marginal portion of said panels having a flat flange bent backwardly thereon and extending into the open side of one of the channels of one of said posts, the lower one of said panels having an upwardly opening groove therein at the top, and the upper one of said panels having its lower edge resting in said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,919,193 Beiger July 25, 1933 2,680,326 Sultan June 8, 1954 2,729,411 Cahill Jan. 3, 1956 2,739,777 Schoenhardt Mar. 27, 1956 2,787,382 Williams Apr. 2, 1957 2,872,049 Slater Feb. 3, 1959 2,956,688 Galassi Oct. 18, 1960 2,958,427 Bianchi Nov. 1, 1960 2,975,908 Huet Mar. 21,1961 3,015,400 Foster Jan. 2, 1962 

1. IN A SHELVING ARRANGEMENT; SPACED SIDE BASE MEMBERS HAVING POST RECEIVING OPENINGS IN THE TOP, POSTS IN SAID OPENINGS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE SIDE BASE MEMBERS HAVING THEIR LOWER ENDS IN RIGID ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIDE BASE MEMBERS, A FRONT BASE MEMBER, SAID FRONT AND SIDE BASE MEMBERS HAVING ADJACENT END PORTIONS IN INTERFITTING ENGAGEMENT, EACH SAID POST HAVING APERTURES DISTRIBUTED THEREALONG, A PAIR OF SUPPORT ARMS FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE POSTS EACH HAVING A HOOK ENGAGING ONE APERTURE OF THE PERTAINING POST AND A SPUD PORTION ENGAGING ANOTHER OF SAID APERTURES, A SHELF MEMBER SUPPORTED ON SAID ARMS, SAID SHELF MEMBER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF 